On Nov 8, Wang Yaping, a female astronaut of Shenzhou XIII mission, became China's first and the world's 16th female space walker. The expected six-month journey in space has left many curious about the differences between male and female astronauts, especially in terms of performing extravehicular (舱外的) activities (EVAs). Despite (即使) physical challenges, female astronauts have unique (独一无二的) advantages.
Understanding between astronauts is very important for carrying out EVAs, which is based on excellent communication skills. Women are superior (更好的) in communication and language expression, and this helps female astronauts do extravehicular activities, according to Yang Yuguang, vice chair of Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation.
Men and women are different in body size, which also gives women unique advantages for spacewalks. "Their generally smaller size is an advantage, as women will be able to control their weight better and perform a wider variety of tasks," Pang told China Daily.
Women in general weigh less, eat less food, consume less oxygen (氧气), and therefore required less fuel (燃料) to get into space. An astronaut must weigh between 55 kilograms and 70 kilograms to ft in the cabin of spacecraft and consume less fuel, according to CGIN.
A different body shape requires a different spacesuit. A tailor-made spacesuit was prepared for' Wang's extravehicular activities, which was lighter than the males'. Designers optimized the pattern of this spacesuit in the lower limb (下肢) area to make it more suitable for astronauts with slimmer figures.
According to Pang, many studies have found that female astronauts are more suitable for space missions and have advantages over male astronauts in qualities such as attention to detail and thinking comprehensively (全面地).
Men tend to excel in shorter-term, goal oriented (目标导向的) situations while women are better in longer-term habitation-type (居住类) circumstances, according to National Geographic.
Women's participation in EVAs is an integral (不可缺少的) part of space missions, and we are witnessing history thanks to Wang's bravery, according to Yang.
